Trolling motor with steering means

ABSTRACT

This invention describes an improved electric trolling motor system for driving small boats. The motor which drives the propeller also drives a gear train through electrical clutches. Gears are designed to separately cooperate with a third gear means to rotate the trolling motor with respect to a support rod fastened to the boat. By connecting one or the other clutch to a battery, the direction of the motor can be rotated to the right or to the left.

United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,723,839

Cramer 1 1 Mar. 27, 1973 1 TROLLING MOTOR WITH STEERING 2,804,838 9 1957 Moser ..115 18 E MEANS 2,877,733 3 1959 Harris ..1 15 18 E [75] inventor: Howard A. Cramer, Tulsa, Okla 2,372,247 3 1945 Bllllng ..115/3 s [73] Assignee: Lowrance Electronics Mfg. Corp., Primary Examiner-"G Simmons T l Okl Attorney-James R. Head et al.

22 Filed: Mar.27, 1972 [21] Appl.No.: 238,327

[57] ABSTRACT This invention describes an improved electric trolling motor system for driving small boats. The motor 52 0.8. Ci. ..31s 15 115 35,318 88 which hives the PmPehe hives a gear 1 l through electrical clutches. Gears are designed to Int Cl 02k 7/10 separately cooperate with a third gear means to rotate the trolling motor with respect to a support rod [58] held of Search 15/18 318/588 fastened to the boat. By connecting one or the other 318/12 clutch to a battery, the direction of the motor can be rotated to the right or to the left. [56] References Cited 3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,052,204 9/1962 Scivally ..l 15/18 E TROLLING MOTOR WITII STEERING MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention lies in the field of propulsion systems for small boats. More particularly, it is concerned with electrical power units for slow speed trolling of small boats, such as fishing boats.

In the prior art outboard propulsion systems have been used for small boats used for fishing. Generally these are controlled by means of a rudder arm which rotates the entire motor and propeller assembly. The arm is controlled by the operator who must be seated nearby. The prior art also includes the use of cables and levers so that someone stationed at another selected point in the boat may remotely control the direction of the propeller shaft by means of the cords and levers. In addition, electric motors, separate from that which drives the propeller, are used to rotatably position trolling motors.

Both of these systems have serious disadvantages, the first, because it requires the operator to be seated in one fixed position, at the stern of the boat, and to use at least one of his hands to control the steering of the boat, leaving only one hand for the manipulation of the fishing equipment. The second method is disadvantageous because the levers and cords are complicated and expensive, and it is necessary to select a second position, which is generally fixed on the boat, so this does not provide freedom for the operator to move around to various parts of the boat while still having full control of the trolling motor and of its direction of orientation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a primary object of this invention to provide a trolling motor system which uses an electric motor to drive the propeller, and also utilizes the same motor, by remote electrical control, to change the orientation of the motor and propeller system so as to drive the boat in different selected directions.

This objective is accomplished and the limitations of the prior art are overcome by this invention, in which the electric motor which is used to drive the propeller is utilized also to drive clutch and gear mechanisms by which, remotely, the motor and propeller can be rotated about a vertical axis so as to change the direction of travel of the fishing boat. Two electrically controlled clutches are mounted on the motor shaft. These' carry first and second gear means, which individually cooperate with a third gear, which rotates about a vertical axis, parallel to a vertical support rod by which the trolling motor system is supported from the boat. This support rod rotates relative to the housing of the motor in bearings in the housing. Drive means are provided between the third gear and the support rod, so that by engaging one or the other of the two clutches, the support rod can be rotated relative to the housing in one direction or the other. Since the support rod is clamped to the boat, relative rotation therefore means that the housing will rotate about the axis of the support rod, changing the direction in which the boat is propelled.

Since the clutches are operated electrically, all that is required is a pair of switches, such that only one or the other can be closed at the same time, thus controlling the clutches to rotate the housing about the support rod. These switches can be incorporated in a hand control device. Preferably they are in a foot control device, so that while the operator is using both hands for his fishing equipment his foot can be used to close one switch or the other, to control the direction of the boat. Since the switches can be carried on long conductors, the operator is free to assume a position at any point in the boat, and still control the boat, while having his hands free for other duties.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS These and other objects of this invention and a better understanding of the principles and details of the invention will be evident from the following description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a vertical section through the axis of the support rod and the housing of the trolling motor system.

FIG. 2 is a cross section taken in the plane 2-2 of no.1.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates generally the trolling motor system including the housing, the drive motor, and the propeller. Numeral 12 indicates generally the gear system and clutches by means of which the housing of the trolling motor can be rotated about a vertical axis. Numeral 14 represents generally the support system for the trolling motor system.

The trolling motor system comprises a housing 15 including a cover plate 42 at the front end, which is sealed by 0 rings 44 and fastened by screws, not shown, but well known in the art. There is a support system 14 which comprises an outer tube 16 which supports the housing 50, and is attached sealably thereto such as by welds 18. A support rod 20 is journaled inside the other tube 16 by means of bearing 22 and 24 and 0" ring seal 26. The support rod extends upwardly out of and beyond the end of the outer tube 16 and is fastened to the boat so that it hangs in a vertical direction. Thefastening means is not shown but is well known in the art and need not be described further. The support rod 20 has a central passage 28 through which electrical conductors can be passed between a power supply on the boat and the electrical equipment in the housing 15.

The drive motor 30 is supported on the block means 34 so that its axis corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the housing. It has a shaft which extends out of both ends of the motor. One shaft end 32 extends through an opening in the back end of thehousing l5, and is supported by bearing 36 and is sealed against water entry by Ol-ring 46. This shaft end 32 supports a propeller 40 by means of which the boat is propelled. The other shaft end 34 extending from the motor 30 is supported in bearing 38 in the cap 42 at the front end of the housing 15. Mounted on the shaft 34 are two electrical clutches 48 and 50 which are well known in the art and need not be described further. These involve electromagnetic coils, (not shown) by means of which, gears 52 and 54 which are mounted on the clutches, can be controlled so as to rotate freely about the shaft 34, or by energizing one or the other clutches, gears 52 or 54 can be held to the shaft 34 and to rotate with it. The electrical coils of clutches 48 and 50 have current supplied to them by leads or brushes 56 and 58, which are well known in the art. These brushes 56 and 58 are supported on an insulating board 57. Directly above the shaft 34 is a fitting 60 which has at one end a threaded portion 62 which is screwed into a corresponding tapped hole in the upper surface of the housing 15, by means of which the fitting 60 is supported. On the under side of the fitting 60 is a cylindrical bearing 64 which supports a sprocket 68 which is held in position by nut 66 which is threaded to the bottom end of the fitting 60. The sprocket 68 is therefore able to rotate about the bearing 64, the axis of which is perpendicular to the axis of the motor.

The sprocket 68 has a plurality of openings 74 which are cut into it on a circle of appropriate diameter, such that the tips of the gears 52 and 54 will enter into these openings. As one or the other of the gears 52 and 54 rotates, it will engage the sprocket by means of the gear tips in the openings. The sprocket will rotate in one direction or the other, depending on which of the two gears 52 and 54 rotates, which, of course, depends on which of the two clutches 48 and 50 is energized. The sprocket 68 is connected by chain 72 to a sprocket 70, which is fastened on the bottom end of the support rod 20. Thus, when the motor shaft is turning, and one or the other of the clutches 48 and 50 is energized, the corresponding gear 52 and 54 will rotate, thus rotating the sprocket 58 and by-means of the chain 72 will relatively rotate the support rod with respect to the outer tube 16 of the housing 15. Since the support rod 20 is fixed to the boat, this will mean that the housing will rotate about the vertical axis of the support rod, and the direction in which the boat is propelled will be changed.

Power for the motor is supplied by batter 76 through switch 78 and leads 79 and 80 which pass down through the passage 28 in the support rod 20 and are attached to the motor terminals. One of these leads 79 also connects to a common connection 81 between the two clutches. The other terminals of the two clutches are carried by leads 81 and 82 up through the support rod passage. They go to switches 83 and 84 respectively. The other ends of the switches 83 and 84 go by lead 86 to the terminal of the battery to which the lead 80 is connected.

When the switch 78 is closed, power is supplied to the motor and it rotates driving the propeller and propelling the boat. When switch 83 or 84 is closed, the corresponding clutch 48 or 50 is energized and the corresponding gear 52 or 54 is driven, which rotates the sprocket 68 in one direction or the other and correspondingly rotates the housing with respect to the support rod 20.

Of course, other gear systems such as bevel or worm gears could be used. Any of the many types of electrical clutches commercially available on the market can be used. Switches for control of electrical machinery are well known in the art and the switches 83 and 84 can be any of these that are commercially available. Two such switches can be mounted side by side on a support base. If desired, two separate switches can be used, one in the position of the left foot and the other in the position of the right foot, so that one or the otherfoot can be depressed to control the'direction of the boat. There are many materials, such as nylon which can be used for the construction of the gears and sprockets to provide for simple, quiet operation but these are well known in the art and no further detail is required.

While the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity it is manifest that many changes may be made in the details of construction and the arrangement of components. It is understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments set forth herein by way of exemplifying the invention, but the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the attached claim or claims, including the full range of equivalency to which each element or step thereof is entitled.

What is claimed is:

1. In an electric trolling system for propelling a boat, said system including, drive motor, motor housing, propeller and power supply, the improvement comprising: 1

a. means to sealably journal a vertical support tube in said housing;

b. means to support'said support tube from said boat;

c. first and second clutch means inside said housing,

driven by said drive motor;

first gear means responsive to said first clutch means to relatively rotate said support tube in a first direction with respect to said housing; e. second gear means responsive to said second clutch means to relatively rotate said support tube in a second direction with respect to said housing; f. means to selectively control the operation of said first or said second clutch means, whereby said housing can be rotated about said support tube means in either direction.

2. The trolling system as in claim 1 in which said first and second gear means involve right-angle shaft drives.

3. The trolling system as in claim 1 in which said motor has a horizontal shaft, said clutches on said motor shaft, said clutches driving two spaced gear means on said motor shaft, said two spaced gear means engaging a third gear means on a third shaft perpendicular to said motor shaft and parallel to said support tube, and means to drive said support tube from said third gear means. 

1. In an electric trolling system for propelling a boat, said system including, drive motor, motor housing, propeller and power supply, the improvement comprising: a. means to sealably journal a vertical support tube in said housing; b. means to support said support tube from said boat; c. first and second clutch means inside said housing, driven by said drive motor; d. first gear means responsive to said first clutch Means to relatively rotate said support tube in a first direction with respect to said housing; e. second gear means responsive to said second clutch means to relatively rotate said support tube in a second direction with respect to said housing; f. means to selectively control the operation of said first or said second clutch means, whereby said housing can be rotated about said support tube means in either direction.
 2. The trolling system as in claim 1 in which said first and second gear means involve right-angle shaft drives.
 3. The trolling system as in claim 1 in which said motor has a horizontal shaft, said clutches on said motor shaft, said clutches driving two spaced gear means on said motor shaft, said two spaced gear means engaging a third gear means on a third shaft perpendicular to said motor shaft and parallel to said support tube, and means to drive said support tube from said third gear means. 